Julia Felton stories, Page 76

The Pitt News released its first print edition of the academic year on Wednesday, keeping alive a 110-year-old Pitt tradition. But things at The Pitt News were far from normal. Jon Moss, the student newspaper’s editor-in-chief, and Mary Rose O’Donnell, the managing editor, weren’t in the newsroom as they worked...

The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday announced a new covid-19 mobile response unit, designed to provide testing and education for minority and underserved communities. The effort is part of a partnership with Latino Connection, Highmark Blue Shield and the Independence Blue Cross Foundation. “We share a unified purpose of...

The yellow fiberglass rhinoceros that sits atop Highland Tire in Tarentum is donning a face mask in response to the covid-19 pandemic. The rhino, a local landmark, has been wearing its mask for about a month, according to Brad Bonnett, president of Highland Tire. “I just figured that people needed...

The University of Pittsburgh has placed nine Greek life chapters on interim suspension of registration status after reports that the groups violated the university’s Health and Safety Guidelines and Student Code of Conduct. Pitt announced the interim suspension of Alpha Tau Omega, Chi Omega, Kappa Delta, Pi Kappa Alpha, and...

Allegheny Health Network announced its newest covid-19 testing schedule for its mobile clinic and community sites. AHN’s mobile clinic will visit the following locations from 10:30 a.m. till 4 p.m.:Wednesday: Hazelwood Family Health Center in Hazelwood at 4915 Second AvenueThursday: Alma Illery Medical Center in Homewood at 7227 Hamilton AvenueMonday:...

A new distillery, Lucky Sign Spirits, opened in Millvale earlier this month. The current menu boasts bourbon, rye and gin. Co-owners Matt Brudnok and Christian Kahle said they plan to expand the menu soon — with future options including limoncello, dandelion vodka, and rum. “The whole point of what we...

After over 25 years in business, Tarentum’s Hometown Restaurant has closed. Rebecca Coy owned and operated Hometown Restaurant. She spent 25 years waking up at 4:30 in the morning to get to the restaurant before breakfast at 6 a.m. She made everything, from breakfast to salad dressing. “Everything was homemade,”...

UPMC East in Monroeville said Friday it is expanding its emergency department and doubling its capacity to accommodate patients. The hospital will begin using the new space on Aug. 24. The $24 million emergency department expansion adds 30,000 square feet to UPMC East. With the renovation, the number of private...

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium announced the birth of three new African lion cubs on Thursday. The cubs — one female and two male — were born at the zoo on July 16. This marks the first African lion births at the Pittsburgh Zoo since 1975, according to zoo...

Frick Park welcomed a team of four-legged helpers Thursday to devour invasive plants. The team consists of 11 goats and a donkey named Hobo, provided by Allegheny GoatScape. This is the third consecutive year the goats have deployed to Frick Park to rid the area of non-native invasive plantlife. When...

At Grove City College, not even a pandemic can stop the music. The school’s marching band, concert band, orchestra and choirs are ready to start a new year, with new covid-19 guidelines in place. The Wolverine Marching Band launched its annual band camp this week, forging ahead despite a postponed...

With flu season rapidly approaching and covid-19 still spreading, health experts say it’s imperative — and safe — to get a flu shot this year. Dr. Marc Itskowitz, an internal medicine physician with Allegheny Health Network, said he recommends the flu vaccine this and every year. “It gives the immune...

The Coop Chicken & Waffles, which operates a local food truck, on Friday opened a brick-and-mortar location in Pittsburgh’s North Side. Nicki Cardilli and her partner started with a food truck about four years ago. Business steadily increased every year, Cardilli said, prompting them to open their new location at...

The Salvation Army is hosting a Back-to-School Bash Drive-Through on Saturday to provide back-to-school essentials for local students. Advance registration is required. Students will receive backpacks, gently used clothes and shoes, and snacks. A limited number of onsite haircuts will also be available for students. The event is scheduled from...

A construction crew in Pittsburgh recently unearthed a piece of history. The Franjo Construction crew was turning soil for a new condominium development on 39th Street, between the Allegheny River and Butler Street in Lawrenceville, on July 2 when they found a piece of buried history, Pittsburgh Public Safety officials...

Seasonal allergies are plaguing Western Pennsylvania again this year with ragweed pollen on the rise. Dr. Thomas Mertz, an allergist at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Pittsburgh, said this allergy season seems to be severe as mid-August arrives. Mertz blamed poor air quality and lots of pollen for the severe...

Seven, a restaurant and nightclub in Downtown Pittsburgh, was ordered by the Allegheny County Health Department to close for seven days for violating covid-19 regulations. The health department’s report cited several violations of covid-19 mandates, including employees not wearing masks — a violation of Gov. Tom Wolf’s mandate for universal...

Russia declared on Tuesday its covid-19 vaccine was ready for public use — an announcement met with global skepticism. While Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted the vaccine had proven to be efficient and had undergone proper testing, some health experts warned that it’s ill-advised to begin using a vaccine before...

Julie Wagner Burkart never realized how important sports were to her children until the covid-19 pandemic upended their athletic schedules. Burkart has an 11-year-old son who is involved in football, baseball, basketball and wrestling. Her 13-year-old daughter is a competitive dancer who runs for her school’s cross country and track...

The Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race is about much more than running. For Ashley Gerken, it’s a tribute to her mother, who died of amyloidosis in 2008. The Great Race donates $1 per runner to amyloidosis research through the Richard S. Caliguiri Fund. The race is named...

Jody Brockett nervously awaited the PIAA’s announcement Friday as to whether high school athletics would proceed in the fall. Her daughter Leah, a freshman, plays soccer at Burrell. She feared the season would be canceled. She worried about her daughter, who has been having a hard time coping with the...

There are several ways to get rid of invasive plants. There are herbicides. There are weed wrenches. There’s the option of simply yanking them from the ground. And there are goats. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy opted for goats to handle the invasive plants at Clayton Hill in Frick Park. This...

Gov. Tom Wolf’s recommendation that youth sports be postponed until Jan. 1 was met Thursday with mixed reactions. Wolf’s suggestion that “we don’t do any sports until Jan. 1” first came during a morning news conference when he was asked about spectators at high school sporting events. By the afternoon,...

With back-to-school just a few weeks away, many local schools are scrambling to find ways to adhere to covid-19 guidelines regarding social distancing. School officials are looking to reduce student density on campus and space desks 6 feet apart, while still providing a good learning environment. Meanwhile, at Rodef Shalom...